Monday, July 15, 2013

Almost a year ago, I wrote an endorsement for Mandela Barnes to be the next state representative for the 11th District. At the time, I pointed out that the then representative, Jason Fields, was the Republican's Democrat.

Since then, Fields has just sunken lower and lower.

Among his most shameful moments, Fields sold his soul to Chris Abele and the Greater Milwaukee Committee, becoming a face for them as they pursued the plutocratic power grab of Milwaukee County.

But now Fields has really taken it to all time lows, teaming up with the Bradley Foundation's hack lawyer and Mr. School Privatization himself, Scott Jensen, in order to attack the state constitution:

Today, the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (“WILL”), on behalf of former Speaker of the Assembly Scott Jensen and state Representative Jason Fields, filed an amicus curiae brief in support of 2011 Act 21 that allows the governor to veto proposed rules from government agencies. The brief, accompanied by a motion asking the court to accept the brief, was filed in the state Court of Appeals District IV.

Last October, the Dane County Circuit Court held that Act 21, as applied to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, violated the Wisconsin Constitution, Article X, Section 1, which grants the Superintendent the duty of supervision of public instruction. “In its holding, the Dane County Circuit Court made the unfounded claim that the Superintendent has a constitutional right to make public policy. But we know from history that this cannot be. Like other non-supervisory powers, the legislature gave the Superintendent the ability to make rules, so they are well within their right to put restrictions on rulemaking – or even take it away completely,” said CJ Szafir, education policy director at WILL.

WILL filed on behalf of Reps. Jensen, a Republican, and Fields, a Democrat, because they wanted to protect the integrity of the legislature to be able to pass constitutional reform of the rulemaking process, such as Act 21. “Whether – and to what extent – the agencies have the ability to make regulations is a public policy decision made by the state legislature. It is not for the courts to second-guess such a decision,” said former Speaker Scott Jensen.

Act 21 changed the law relating to state agency rulemaking in various ways that limit the power of state agencies to regulate Wisconsin citizens. Explained Jason Fields, “In recent years, the legislature has enacted historic education reforms, such as allowing more charter school authorizers and expanding school choice. We can’t afford to see these gains jeopardized by agencies imposing more rules and regulations on Wisconsin schools and families.”

Now, aren't you glad you listened to me by electing Representative Mandela Barnes?

One would think that Fields, being a former legislator, would understand the system of checks and balances. Perhaps he does, but being a sellout, he just doesn't give a damn as long as he gets paid.